MICHELA KIRKALDIE

Classical Michela Kirkaldie Dip ABS, Grad Cert Ed - Visual and Performing Arts, VGCEBI, APMA Pilates Instructor Michela Kirkaldie received her early training from Edouard Borovansky, Laurel Martyn and Paul Hammond in Melbourne. A graduate of The Australian Ballet School, she joined The Australian Ballet in 1970, became a soloist in 1976 and was named a principal artist in 1978. During her years with The Australian Ballet, Ms Kirkaldie worked with many world renowned producers and choreographers including Sir Robert Helpmann, Sir Frederick Ashton, Dame Alicia Markova, Glen Tetley, Choo San Goh, André Prokovsky, Ronald Hynd, Jerome Robbins and Rudolf Nureyev. In 1979 Ms Kirkaldie appeared with the London Festival Ballet in the title role of Ronald Hynd’s Rosalinda with Jay Jolley, and spent much of this period continuing her professional training in both London and New York. In 1980, she re-joined The Australian Ballet and appeared in the role of Odette/Odile at the premier performance of Swan Lake with Soviet defector Alexander Godunov. Her principal roles included a host of well-known ballets, both classical and contemporary. She featured in Nureyev’s 1973 film version of Don Quixote with The Australian Ballet and in Gillian Lynn’s ABC-TV production of Fool on the Hill. In 1984, Ms Kirkaldie danced as Tatiana in Onegin opposite Gary Norman in The Australian Ballet’s first performance at the State Theatre, Victorian Arts Centre. She won a Green Room Award for the best female dancer in a leading role in 1984. In 1986, Ms Kirkaldie was appointed Assistant Director at the National Theatre Ballet School in Melbourne, and later became Senior Classical Lecturer at the Victorian College of the Arts. Since 1992 Ms Kirkaldie has been a Senior Classical Teacher at The Australian Ballet School. In 2007 she was appointed as Specialist Coach, working with students on the technical and artistic aspects of their training and helping injured students return to a full training capacity. In 2002 Ms Kirkaldie attended the Dance Teacher’s Seminar at The National Ballet School of Canada in Toronto studying with Irene Dowd, Peggy Baker and members of The National Ballet School’s staff. In 2011 she commenced with the Vocational Graduate Certificate in Elite Dance Instruction, delivering the practical components of the Course. « Back to Staff Vision Statement From The Australian Ballet History Location Facilities Staff Graduates Accredited courses